Action-Packed Natural Adventure

The Guanacaste Combo Tour is one of the most exhilarating, fun day trips you can take during your stay at the Flamingo Beach Resort & Spa. Especially if you want to enjoy a relaxing, beach vacation but at the same time want to experience some of the unique things about Costa Rica, this full-day tour is for you.

I had this delightful experience on a beautifully sunny day toward the end of the last green season. We left Flamingo around 8 a.m., right after breakfast, in an air-conditioned van en-route to the Buena Vista Lodge near Rincon de la Vieja National Park. During the approximately 2 1/2 hour ride, our guide enlightened and entertained us with an astounding amount of facts about Costa Rica's flora and fauna, history and culture. Once we arrived at Buena Vista, the adventure truly began. We started off with an easy 10-15 minute hike up to the launching platform for the Jungle Canopy Zipline. We were provided with helmets, gloves and hanging gear, along with very clear safety instructions, and off we went, flying among the treetops of this pristine tropical forest! As we landed exuberantly on the third of twelve platforms, we were treated to the sight of two colorful toucans in the branches nearby. The views were lovely and we could hear the grunts of the howler monkeys in the distance. Upon the final landing, we had another treat in store: A one-of-a-kind waterslide zipping downhill along the forest floor. The water was cold and refreshing, and as I bumped and bounced my way around curves worthy of a bobsled run, I found myself laughing hysterically, partly from terror but mostly from the sheer rush of the good time I was having. This was followed by a plain but satisfying "comida tipica" buffet lunch in the spacious, rustic Lodge. Next, we were outfitted with horses for a gorgeous 40 minute trek deep into the forest, following our guide single-file down a narrow, winding path along the river bank. Before emerging near the hot springs, we saw a variety birds including another toucan, along with a family of white-face monkeys playing in the trees. After changing again to our swimsuits in the simple, clean locker rooms, we were led to a kind of sauna built into the lave rocks, so that we could "open our pores." After that we were taken straight to the mud room, where we slathered warm volcanic clay all over our bodies, like Indian warriors preparing for battle. We showered the cleansing, soothing mud off a short while later, and began to explore the thermal pools of varying temperatures. Once again, the monkeys were putting on a show and kept us entertained while we soaked up the minerals from these healing springs. After an hour there, it was still hard to pull ourselves away. We changed back into jeans and t-shirts, ate a small snack, and piled on an open air tractor/jeep for the ride back to the Lodge and the bus ride to The Flamingo Beach Resort & Spa. We were tired but happy, full of wonderful stories to tell the folks back home.

Sunny, Sporty Long Weekend

The weather during Labor Day Weekend (U.S.) and the week that followed at Playa Flamingo was a pleasant surprise, with beautiful clear blue skies every day and not a drop of rain. The surf temperature was delicious and the tranquil waters excellent for swimming, diving and fishing. Unfortunately, the Costa Rican national soccer team, La Seleccion, which started out with a very promising bid for World Cup qualification, fell to 4th place in its division (CONCACAF) after very discouraging losses to both Mexico (3-0) on September 5th and El Salvador (1-0) on September 9th. Locals and tourist alike viewed the matches on the giant flat-screen at the Sunset Lounge at The Flamingo Beach Resort & Spa, while enjoying cocktails and snacks. While "La Sele" truly disappointed its fans, the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament provided some excellent sports entertainment and action. One of the things I love about being at Flamingo is that you can be in this remote, beautiful spot, but still keep up with some of your favorite things from civilization!

Congrats to Flamingo General Manager Donovan Garcia and his wife Maria Teresa on the birth of baby Natalia, on Dia del Nino (Sept 9th). The family is welcoming their first daughter after three boys!

With Costa Rica's Independence Day falling on Tuesday, Sept. 15th, many San Jose residents will be heading out to soak up some of that Guanacaste sunshine now that it's their turn for a long weekend. Enjoy!

Getting There By Air

Now that discount airlines such as Condor, Jet Blue and Spirit Airlines have initiated flights into San Jose, the competition has really heated up and there are some great roundtrip air fares available from dozens of U.S. cities into Costa Rica's capital city (SJO). Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for direct flights into Liberia (LIR), which is much closer to the Flamingo Beach Resort & Spa in Guanacaste. While Delta, American, United and Continental continue regular service into Liberia, the schedules are limited and the cost is usually more than the typical airfare to San Jose. Don't let this stop you from enjoying Costa Rica's Northern Pacific Coast, which truly has the best climate and most beautiful beaches in the entire country!! If you want to save money by flying into San Jose, you have several options. You can either rent a car and drive yourself, or hire a tour company to provide transportation and help you plan an additional adventure on your way to Flamingo Beach Resort & Spa. For example, you can take a couple of extra days and explore the cloud forest in Monteverde, visit the hot springs near Arenal Volcano, and even take an African-style wildlife safari outside of Liberia. All of these wonderful attractions can be found en-route from San Jose to Flamingo, with just a little detour here or there. Or, if the beach experience is all you crave, you can simply hop on a scenic 45 minute flight to Tamarindo on either SANSA or Nature Air. These airlines are both well-managed and have an excellent safety records. Sansa Regional is part of Grupo Taca, a major global carrier serving all of Central and South America. Nature Air is part of the largest charter airline in Central America, used regularly by many corporations and government agencies for their top VIPs! Both airlines have the latest in equipment and technology, employ only top-notch, experienced pilots and put them through their own rigorous training programs. And as an added bonus, both local airlines strive to be carbon neutral. Now that's a real GREEN reason to fly to your favorite Costa Rican resort!